Listen Live
Fantastic Voyage Generic Graphics Updated Nov 2023
Black America Web Featured Video
CLOSE

jasongoolsby

Jason Goolsby, the Washington DC teen who was arrested last year after a woman said that she felt “uneasy” at an ATM, is now suing the city for failing to prevent false imprisonment, assault, and battery by Metropolitan Police Department officers.

Video footage of Goolsby’s arrest went viral last year, sparking public outrage as he was shown writhing in pain while his friend, Mike Brown, shouted to the arresting officer that Goolsby had not done anything wrong.

Cops were called to the scene after a white woman at an ATM called 911 and said she felt “uneasy,” and that “if we had taken money out we might’ve gotten robbed.”

The 911 caller said that she did not feel safe, but later admitted that the teens “weren’t doing anything in the bank,” and “had not committed any crime in her presence.”

The department determined that the officers used force that was “reasonably necessary to bring this situation under control” and to “overcome the level of resistance.”

Per WJLA:

The initial call to 911 stated that three subjects may be trying to rob people at the ATM. The location for the call was 6th St and Pennsylvania Ave SE. Officers in the area responded to the assignment. One individual fled on foot from the police, was chased, and then taken down. The individual resisted, and was handcuffed while resisting after he refused to stop. The person making the video was interfering with police, and was also detained while the incident was investigated. Neither individual was arrested,” said officer Sean Hickman said.

One witness working nearby at the time of the incident agrees with the police account that the man shooting the video became physical with police.

“He pushed the police guy,” Jorge Rivera told ABC7.

Police say after questioning him they released the young man. They also maintain they asked him whether he needed medical attention and despite his pained screams he declined and left.

“[This experience] scarred him for life—physically and emotionally,” said Goolsby’s attorney, Peter Grenier.

Goolsby is suing Washington, D.C. for $1 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages.

PHOTO: NBC Washington

Like BlackAmericaWeb.com on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.